The Difference between Quartz & Quartzite

Quartz vs. Quartzite

What’s the difference between the two?

Quartz and Quartzite are two similar countertops materials that have grown vastly in popularity over the past 10 years. Granite, which once was the go-to material for countertops, is slowly being phased out for the low maintenance of quartz and the beauty of quartzite.

“Are they made of the same thing? They have a similar name…”

First and foremost, Quartz is a man-made, engineered stone.Quartz countertops are made from 93% crushed quartz and 7% resin, to bind it all together.

Quartzite is a natural stone, cut and quarried from the Earth and mined into slabs for your countertops.

Although they have similar names, they have VAST differences.

“But wouldn’t the man-made product have the ‘ite’ at the end?”

This is a commonly asked question we get asked all the time.The reason why it’s called quartzITE is because of the metamorphic process the stone goes through under the Earth.Quartzite is Sandstone heated and pressurized under the Earth’s crust.

“Sooo, what’s the difference between the two?”

One of the main differences between Quartz and Quartzite is that Quartz is Non-Porous; it never needs to be sealed against staining to extend the longevity of the stone.Quartzite ALWAYS needs to be sealed.Either purchase a 15-year sealer, or seal it every couple of years to make sure it doesn’t stain.

Another difference between the two stones is that Quartz is scratch resistant.Quartzite is a cousin of marble, which makes it a little more prone to scratching if the stone is not properly sealed.

Lastly, when using a Quartzite for your countertop, make sure to avoid acidity like lemon juice or tomato sauce, as Quartzite is more susceptible to staining or etching with acidic juices.Make sure to clean these up quickly with a special quartzite cleaner, as to not cause lasting damage.Quartz is impervious to acidity and only needs to be cleaned with warm water and soap.